Amy's Cafe

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The Badrider

Flavorful with lots going on; the Badrider is a blackened burger with bacon, bleu cheese, red onions, romaine and tomato.  You get some tanginess, sharpness and a bite back from a burger that is generously seasoned with all the right spices.  Sides must be ordered separately but what's a burger without its counter part.  And at Amy's you can partner your burger with "sexy fries."  Listed on the menu, you can order plain, garlic Parmesan or Cajun.  To make your fries sexy, Amy's Cafe mixes both garlic Parmesan and Cajun seasoning.  I don't know why they call it sexy but my interpretation is that garlic Parmesan and Cajun is a pair you can't turn away from.

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger

Sweet and delicious, the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger wows the taste buds with bacon, pepperjack, BBQ sauce and onion rings.  Sounds simple and similar to other burgers found anywhere, yet it goes beyond expectation with it's yummy sauciness.  Every bite has a pack of the candy glaze BBQ, ooey gooey cheese, crunchy sweet fried onion ring and savory bacon.  Every component complements and makes you want another mouthful of this saucy burger.

Irish Nachos 

The Irish Nachos is made with waffle fries, Colby-jack, bacon, tomato, green onion with sour cream and salsa (jalapenos additional 75 cent).  Instead of nachos with tortilla, thick crispy waffle fries are placed at the bottom of the dish.  The thick waffle and bacon are the highlights of this starter  though once the sprinkled on bacon is gone a mild flavor of cheese fries resumes.  I was looking forward to the Irish Nacho, though the familiar taste was nothing more than just a loaded potato dish in a different arrangement.  Not bad for an order of loaded waffle fries, but pretty weak for Irish Nachos.

Cheese Steak

I truly have a hard time finding a good tasting cheesesteak in Madison.  I have not been to Philly and don't have "authentic" comparison, I just rate base on taste and unfortunately, I haven't come across a good cheesesteak in Madison.  Amy's Cafe cheesesteak just tastes like all others I've had and they seem to be the same with poor qualities: inconsistent bites (some bites are mild, most bites are way too salty); not enough mushroom, onions, and peppers; and the bread to stuffing ratio is always off where you get mostly bread.  If anyone knows of a great cheesesteak in Madison, please e-mail me.


amyscafe.com
414 West Gilman Street, Madison, WI 53703

(608) 255-8172 ‎

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The Old Fashioned - Big Wisconsin Flavor

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The Old Fashioned House Burger

This stunning burger is grilled over a live fire and topped with fried onions, Bavaria's hickory-smoked bacon, aged Cheddar, garlic sauce and a soft-cooked egg served on a buttered and toasted roll.  With you choice of side salad or fries, or substitute onion strings, chips, potato salad, or cheese curds for extra, your meal is complete.  The Old Fashioned House Burger packs big flavor; each bite reignites the intense flavors of the succulent patty and crispy hickory-smoked bacon.  The aged Cheddar had the perfect amount of rich and sharpness that sneaks up on you at the end of each bite, wrapping all the big flavors in one mouthful.  Great burger, you gotta try!

Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup

If Wisconsinites can have it their way, the Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup is the choice of liquid they would swim in.  Creamy-slick and sharply-smooth is the amusement your tongue goes through when sipping a spoonful of delightfulness.  And to top it off, they garnish popcorn of all things.  Little do you know that this is the best ingredient to add for texture and also for flavor.  The popcorn soaking up the soup becomes a flavor of its own.  Somehow the combination just works.  I really wished they had added more popcorn.

Green Bay Chili

The Green Bay Chili contains an Old Fashioned secret recipe of seasoned beef and red beans served over spaghetti with shredded Cheddar, onion and sour cream.  I love the ingredients but unfortunately, the flavor lacks a bit.  I wanted more toppings; more cheese, sour cream, even spaghetti.  And also some basic ingredients like salt and pepper.  Otherwise great quality and quantity of beef; in this dish you won't have to ask "Where's the Beef?"

Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder Sandwich

Wood-grilled and slow roasted pork shoulder, hand pulled and topped with pickle relish, Muenster cheese and smoked paprika sauce on Texas toast; a smart formula for great flavor.  Again, the Old Fashioned packs their sandwich with a ton of flavor; melt in your mouth juicy, bold buttery, cheesy and absolutely yummy. 

http://theoldfashioned.com
23 North Pinckney Street #1, Madison, WI
(608) 310-4545

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The Cheesecake Factory - More Than Just Delicious Desserts

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Strawberry Shortcake

 If it weren't for my sweet tooth, dessert loving friends, I would have missed out on a ton of deliciousness The Cheesecake Factory has to offer.  Of course your first impression on the name itself is sweet rich dessert, so why are there so many people dining outdoors for brunch early Sunday morning at this restaurant?  Well, you just have to make it out there.  The second you enter through the grand doors you'll notice amusement theme feel where the size is grand, the decor is grand, and best of all the food is grand.  To give you an idea, we held up a dollar next to their delicious Strawberry Shortcake.  This simple dessert of shortcake with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and whipped cream was just the perfect touch to complete our meal.  Each strawberry had the perfect sweetness and tartness that complemented the soft flaky cake and creamy dairy.  As grand as this dessert was, the fresh deliciousness had me wishing I didn't have to share.

Miso Salmon

The grand theme is repeated in their menu.  You'll find dishes influenced from all over the nation and world.  You'll find American, Spanish, Italian, Caribbean, Asian, and so on.  The Miso Salmon is served with snow peas, white rice and surrounded by a pool of delicious miso.  The salmon was tender and flaky, cooked with great color and flavor and is enhanced to exquisiteness when touched with the sweet savory miso sauce.

Shepherd's Pie

And even with a grand ceilings, grand furniture, and grand dishes, you can find a homey comfort with their Sheperd's Pie.  Made with ground beef, mushrooms, carrots, peas, zucchini and onion in a savory sauce covered with a mashed potato-parmesan cheese crust.  How much more comforting can that be?  The delicate veggies sits in a spa of savory brown meat base warming you with comfort in each bite.  The mashed potato takes it to another level of comfort as the creaminess of the mashed potato works your taste buds and massages you to tranquility.

www.thecheesecakefactory.com